Wrench.



JAMES B. COFFEY, OF KELLER, OKLAHOMA.

wanncn,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 16, 1916.

Application filed November 29, 1913. Serial No. 803,751.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. CoFrnY, citizen of the United States, residing at Keller, in the county of Carter and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wrenches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in wrenches.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means for positively locking the movable jaw in the desired adjusted position.

A further object of the invention contemplates the provision of means whereby the movable jaw may be released for quick shifting, positively fastened in adjusted position, and whereby the force applied when in use and the resistance existing between the stationary and movable jaws tends to hold the movable jaw more firmly in such adjusted position.

The above and additional objects are ac-- complished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wrench constructed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention the numeral 1 designates as an entirely the stationary jaw, 2 the movable jaw and 3 the stock or handle of the wrench.

The stationary jaw 1 comprises the usual head 4 and shank 5, the latter having formed therein a longitudinal recess 6 within which a portion of the shank or stem 7 of the movable jaw 2 is seated. Teeth 8 are formed within the shank 5 at the bottom of the recess 6 to effect, in substance, a rack extending from a point in spaced relation to the head 4 of the stationary jaw to the inner end of the said recess 6. A plurality of teeth, (preferably two) are formed inte-' grally with and upon the inner extremity of the stem 7, which teeth are disposed for engagement with the corresponding teeth of the rack 8. The teeth 8 and 9 when in engagement, as is illustrated to advantage in Fig. 2 of the drawings lock the stationary jaw and the movable jaw incapable of longitudinal movement independent of each other, and as the teeth 8 extend throughout the greater portion of the length of the recess 6, it is apparent that the movable jaw may be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the stationary jaw to provide for the action of the wrench upon nuts and other elements varying in size. An opening 10 is formed in the head 1 of the stationary jaw 1, the opening being alined with the recess 6 to thus provide a continuation thereof, thereby providing for the reception of the stem 7 of the stationary jaw. One of the defining walls of the opening 10 is beveled or cut at an inclination as is illustrated at 11 to provide for the tilting of the stem 7 during the adjustment of the movable jaw, at which time one of the longitudinal edges of the stem 7 engages the said beveled wall 11, the latter serving as a retaining element to render impossible entire separation of the two jaws of the wrench.

Upon reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it is apparent that the stem 7 is enlarged without the recess 6 to provide shoulders 12, disposed for engagement with the top face of the shank 5. A metallic band or fastening member 13 is arranged to embrace the stem 7 of the movable jaw, the free end of the said band being bent inwardly as at 14 to provide a locking element for the said stem. Longitudinal grooves 15 are formed, one within each of the lateral faces of the shank 5, within which the respective flared extremities 14 of the said band 13 fit, this arrangement providing for the adjustment of the said band in a manner necessary to the operation of the wrench. One extremity of the groove 15 extends beyond the corresponding extremity of the recess 6, thus enabling the said band to be slid upon the shank 5, into the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so as to be entirely free from engagement with the stem 7 of the movable jaw. When in the position above mentioned, the band is in engagement with a stop lug 16 formed integrally with the shank 5 of the stationary jaw, the said stop lug serving as a means whereby the said band is maintained at all times capable of operative engagement with the stem 7 over one face of which it is adapted to be slid. An extension 17 is formed integrally with the shank 5 to form a reinforcing element for the handle 3, the latter being maintained in proper place upon the said extension through the medium of a nut 18, and washer 19 threaded upon the free end of the said extension.

lVh-en it is desired that the wrench should be adjusted the band 13 is slid until in engagement with the stop plug 16, whereupon the movable jaw is tilted into the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings thus disengaging the teeth 9 from the rack 8 and causing one side of the stem 7 to engage the inclined wall of the opening 10. iVhen inclined, longitudinal movement of the movable jaw may be eilected independent of the stationary jaw, and, after proper adjustment, by forcing the teeth 9 in mesh with the corresponding teeth of the rack 8, and sliding the band 13 into engagement with the said stem, it is apparent that the movable jaw is locked or fastened immovably by reason of the engagement of the said band with the grooves 15 formed in the respective lateral faces of the shank 5 of the wrench.

From the above, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will be noted that the application of tension upon the stationary and movable jaws tends to hold the same in the desired adjusted position; that minute adjustment may be eitectedby the manipulation of the band 13, the same being moved into and out of engagement with the stem 7, the latter being longitudinally in the desired usted position; and that by the provision oi the shoulders 12 lateral movement of the stem 7 relative the shank 5 is rendered impossible during the application of the device.

In reduction to practice, I have found that the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most ei'licient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wrench comprising a stationary jaw and a. movable a stem formed integrally with said movable jaw, a shank formed integrally with said stationary jaw, said shank having a longitudinal recess formed therein, teeth formed at the base of the said recess, the said recess adapted to partially embrace the said stem, a guide member formed integrally with the said shank adapted to embrace the said stem, teeth formed upon the said stem adapted for engagement with the teeth of the shank, a band slidable upon the said shank, the respective extremities of the said band being adapted for engagement with longitudinal grooves formed within-the respective lateral faces of the said shank, the said band being slidable throughout the length of the said grooves into and out of engagement with the said stem to provide for the retention of the teeth in mesh, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A wrench comprising a movable jaw and a stationary jaw, said stationary jaw having arecess formed therein, a stem formed integrally with the said movable jaw, the said stem being partially embraced by and slidable within the said shank recess, teeth formed at the base of the said recess, teeth formed upon the said stem adapted for engagement with the said recess teeth, and a substantially U-shaped member on said shank embracing said stem to maintain the sets of teeth in engagement.

3. A wrench, including, a stationary jaw having a shank provided with a longitudinal recess, teeth on the base of said recess, said shank having grooves formed in its side faces, a movable jaw having a stem provided with a plurality of teeth adjacent its free extremity for engagement with the first said teeth, and a yoke member slidable in the grooves of the shank to embrace said stem to maintain said teeth in engagement.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. COFFEY. Witnesses:

J. M. D. CLowDUs, J. L. J ONES.

Copies 0! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

